End of Life Issuesand Funeral Planning

Leaving Footprints: Our Legacy

Advanced Medical Directives

LEGAL, ECUMENICAL, CATHOLIC

Catholic Medical Ethics Summary

Catholic Patients in Health Care Institutions who are in danger of death should:

Be provided with medical information to help them understand their condition

Be given the opportunity to discuss their condition with family and health care providers

Be given spiritual support (Prayer, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, Viaticum)

Catholic Medical Ethics Summary Catholics have a moral obligation to use ordinary and

proportionate means to preserve their life

Catholic patients with chronic conditions who are not imminently dying should receive food and water by “medically assisted” means, if they cannot take them normally

Catholic patients in chronic and presumably irreversible conditions should also receive nutrition and hydration if they can be reasonably expected to live indefinitely, if given such care.

This moral obligation (to provide food and water) ceases when tube feeding becomes excessively burdensome or no longer accomplishes its objective – that is, when medically administered food or water are no longer being assimilated by the patient

QUESTIONS?

Any questions regarding this topic?

Funeral Planning

SIGNIFICANCE, CHOICES, CATHOLIC

Catholic Funeral Planning

Within the context of the liturgical rite of the Roman Catholic Church called:

THE ORDER OF CHRISTIAN FUNERALS

Order of Christian Funerals (OCF)Brief Theology of the OCF

Rooted in HOPE based on the dying and rising of Jesus Christ, the Paschal Mystery (GIOCF #1)

“At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because if its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life.” (GIOCF #4)

Why Celebrate the OCF?

To offer worship, praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life which has now been returned to God

To bring hope and consolation to the living

To recall God’s mercy and judgment To meet the human need to always

turn to God in times of crisis

Rituals of the OCF

Three principle ritual moments in OCF

▪Vigil for the Deceased (with related rites of prayers)

▪Funeral Liturgy▪Rite of Committal

Vigil for the Deceased – Phase I Principal Rite of Phase I – The Vigil

Where held?▪ Parish church, funeral chapel, family home,

etc. Time?▪ Evening before Funeral Liturgy

Purpose?▪ Community keeps watch in prayer with family▪ 1st Solemn proclamation of God’s Word▪ Sharing remembrances of deceased – story-

telling Prayer Leader? ▪ Priest, deacon, trained lay leader

Funeral Liturgy – Phase II

This is the central liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased.

Two Forms Funeral Mass Funeral Liturgy outside Mass

Funeral Liturgy– Phase II

Principal Rite of Phase II – Funeral Liturgy Where held?▪ Parish church

Time?▪ According to parish schedule; not on Sunday or

certain Church solemnities Purpose?▪ To give praise and thanks to God for Christ’s victory

over death▪ To commend the deceased to God’s mercy▪ To seek strength in the proclamation of the Paschal

Mystery Prayer Leader? ▪ Priest (if Mass), deacon or trained lay leader

(outside Mass)

Rite of Committal – Phase III Principal Rite of Phase III -

Committal Where held?▪ Cemetery graveside , columbarium , crematorium, or

chapel Time?▪ According to parish/cemetery schedule; usually

following Funeral Liturgy; according to local custom Purpose?▪ To care for body of deceased member▪ To express the hope that the deceased awaits the glory

of the resurrection▪ Expression of communion between Church on earth

and Church in heaven Prayer Leader? ▪ Priest , deacon or trained lay leader

Preparing Catholic Funeral Rites Funeral Liturgy Pre-planning Form

Scriptures Ministers Music Locations

Additional Pre-planning Information Memorial and Charitable donations? Obituary? Prayer cards? Memorial display? “Words of Remembrance”?

Guidance

Additional Helpful Information Decide where to file your funeral liturgy plans,

mortuary and cemetery choices, any pre-paid funeral documents, your will, trust, other financial documents, etc. so that your loved ones can easily find them

Make a list of relatives, friends, people and organizations you would like to be contacted at the time of your death, including their phone numbers and e-mail addresses

Write or record a brief personal biography which describes your life, your values, your beliefs, and the legacy you would like to share with future generations

QUESTIONS?

Any questions regarding this topic?